Supportive, Multidisciplinary Addiction Research Training (SMART)

ABSTRACT This is a new T32 application entitled “Supportive Multidisciplinary Addiction Research Training (SMART)”. The broad goals of this program are to provide training in substance use disorder (SUD) research for postdoctoral fellows engaged in translational research spanning very basic research programs to clinical trials. This T32 will provide complementary training opportunities to ongoing large translational research efforts at the University of Pittsburgh including the NIDA funded Center for Adolescent Reward, Rhythms and Sleep (CARRS), The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (ABCD), Bridging Connections in Addiction Research (BCAR) and the Center of Excellence for Computational Drug Abuse Research (CDAR). This T32 will allow postdoctoral trainees to engage with both their primary mentor and a host of transdisciplinary faculty across the University of Pittsburgh campus. Our university has a rich history in SUD research including multiple nationally and internationally recognized experts in the field. Trainees will have the opportunity to learn from each other and a multidisciplinary team through mentored laboratory training, journal clubs, didactic work and clinical experiences. We will also provide support for trainees to present their research both here at university sponsored events such as Pitt Psychiatry Research Day, and at national and international conferences such as the Society for Neuroscience, The College on Problems of Drug Dependence and the Neurobiology of Addiction Gordon Research Conference. We also provide unparalleled professional training through our weekly postdoctoral Career & Research Development Seminars (CARDs) and associated writing blocks, giving trainees the opportunity to gain valuable feedback on grant proposals from both faculty and their peers. This T32 will benefit from both a University Advisory Board and an External Advisory Board which will provide yearly evaluations to help strengthen our program. Trainees will regularly engage in training in the responsible conduct of research provided here through the University of Pittsburgh Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI). We are highly committed to the training of underrepresented groups in biomedical research and plan not only targeted recruitment but also enhanced mentor training and regular discussions of potential bias and obstacles to success that trainees may encounter. In sum, our goal is to provide a diverse, inclusive, intellectual experience that will provide the necessary skill set for a successful career in translational SUD research.